Chemics beat Chargers for second straight district basketball title

Published 2:00 am, Saturday, March 3, 2012

Midland's Maura Mcafee, right, blocks a shot by Dow's Josie Queary during the third period Friday at Midland High School. Midland won the district championship 44-29.

Midland's Maura Mcafee, right, blocks a shot by Dow's Josie Queary during the third period Friday at Midland High School. Midland won the district championship 44-29.

Photo: NICK KING | Nking@mdn.net

Image 2 of 4

Dow's Kristine Mussell, left, moves past Midland's Mikayla Russell during the first period Friday at Midland High School. Midland won the district championship 44-29.

Dow's Kristine Mussell, left, moves past Midland's Mikayla Russell during the first period Friday at Midland High School. Midland won the district championship 44-29.

Photo: NICK KING | Nking@mdn.net

Image 3 of 4

From left, Midland's Jessica Walter, Jennifer Jarema, Emily Hohman and Katelyn Schnurr celebrate their victory over Dow Friday at Midland High School. Midland won the district championship 44-29.

From left, Midland's Jessica Walter, Jennifer Jarema, Emily Hohman and Katelyn Schnurr celebrate their victory over Dow Friday at Midland High School. Midland won the district championship 44-29.

Photo: NICK KING | Nking@mdn.net

Image 4 of 4

Midland's Jennifer Jarema, left, is fouled by Dow's Kelly Wilson while shooting during the frist period Friday at Midland High School. Midland won the district championship 44-29.

Midland's Jennifer Jarema, left, is fouled by Dow's Kelly Wilson while shooting during the frist period Friday at Midland High School. Midland won the district championship 44-29.

Photo: NICK KING | Nking@mdn.net

Chemics beat Chargers for second straight district basketball title

1 / 4

Back to Gallery

Last year, Midland High’s girls’ basketball team beat archrival Dow High on a last-second buzzer-beater on the way to the Chemics’ first Class A district title in 16 years.

Friday’s district championship game wasn’t nearly as exciting — but for the Chemics it was still very satisfying.

Midland built a big halftime lead, battled through a second-half Dow surge, and held on to beat the Chargers 44-29 at the Chemics’ gym — giving Midland its second consecutive district title and only the third in school history.

“It’s awesome, especially coming on our home court,” Midland senior Maura McAfee said with a big smile. “You don’t want to lose your last game at home, so it just means a lot to us. We went to regionals last year, and we know what it’s like and what it’s going to take (to win a regional), so we’re just excited to do it again.”

The third-ranked Chemics (20-2) will face Davison (15-7), which beat Flint Northwestern 43-42 on Friday, in Tuesday’s second regional semifinal at Bay City Central High School.

Last year, Midland won its first-ever regional championship, and McAfee said the Chemics are eager to do it again.

“Yeah, definitely (we’re hungry), because we know what it’s like. And we have some younger kids who don’t quite know what it’s like, so we’re trying to teach them and bring them along for the ride,” she said. “It’s fun. It should be a good time.”

Midland coach Elaine Mahabir said she also senses that hunger to win another regional title, particularly from her veterans.

“The kids that are back from last year know the excitement (of winning a regional), of having the community getting behind them,” Mahabir said. “ ... I think they know that (feeling), and they want that (feeling again).”

Dow finishes at 16-6 to end a year which began with uncertainty due to the graduation of Class A Player of the Year Becca Mills and frontcourt mate Sarah Arent, both Daily News Dream Teamers.

“It’s been such a great year because of what we’ve come through. We’ve had comeback wins, overtime wins, and this has been a great season,” said Chargers’ coach Bob Wellman. “This is obviously not how we wanted it to end, but I couldn’t be happier with these girls.”

In a match-up which always features smothering defense by both teams, the first half was typically low-scoring — particularly for Dow.

Midland held the Chargers scoreless in the first quarter and took a 6-0 lead into the second. The Chemics then began the second with three inside buckets by Lily Hami to make it 12-0 before Josie Queary finally got Dow on the board with a free throw at the 5:58 mark.

Queary also hit the Chargers’ first field goal, a putback with 14 seconds remaining, but Hami scored 10 of Midland’s 14 points in the quarter, and the Chemics took a 20-4 lead into the break.

Dow came out of the locker room with renewed energy, though, and played much more aggressively on both ends of the court. The Chargers forced a couple of turnovers and got a couple of shots to fall early, sparking a 9-3 run which cut Midland’s lead to 23-13.

Midland’s Jessie Walter halted the run with back-to-back layups, but Dow was still within striking distance, 29-19, entering the fourth.

Several times in the final period, the Chargers had opportunities to make it a single-digit deficit but were never able to get closer than 10. When the buzzer finally sounded, the Chemics celebrated as a group in front of the Midland bench.

“To see them on the court finishing a (big) game, knowing that this was another accomplishment for the season, that was awesome,” Mahabir said with a smile. “I love to watch them enjoying what they’ve done and enjoying (the results of) their hard work.”

Mahabir added that Dow didn’t make it easy on her team.

“It felt like a one-point win for some reason,” she noted. “ ... They’re a good team, and to be able to beat them three times in a season is a bigger accomplishment than some people realize. If you look at their win-loss record, they’re not just a rebuilding team. They’re a team that we had to play very hard to beat.”

Wellman said he loved the intensity his Chargers brought to the second half, while noting that they just couldn’t convert offensively often enough.

“That’s something they’ve done all year,” he said of the near-comeback. “They’re a group that never stops playing, and they work hard, and I couldn’t have been more proud of this team. ... Defense does win championships, but you still have to put the ball in the hole.”

Hami had 15 points and eight rebounds to lead the Chemics, while McAfee had eight points, 10 rebounds, four blocks, and three steals. Jennifer Jarema added eight points and six boards, and Walter had six points and three assists.

For Dow, Queary had eight points, eight rebounds, and four assists, while Kristine Mussell had six points and three steals, Kelly Wilson six points, and Bridget Karsten five boards.

Unfortunately for Midland, senior forward Mikayla Russell injured her knee in the first half and was unable to return. Mahabir said she is not sure if Russell will be able to play Tuesday.

The Chemics are also still without senior forward Tiarra Carter, who continues to recover from a concussion.

“We’ll spend some time this weekend putting together the best game plan we can, and we’ll do the best we can on Tuesday,” Mahabir said. “I feel confident with the kids we have. We haven’t used the bench a ton this year, but when the kids on the bench have gone in, they’ve done great.”